From: firstinitiallastname@texas.net   
      
   Von Fourche wrote:   
      
   >     What was the purpose of cowboys wearing a vest?  I was watching Rawhide   
   > yesterday, and noticed both Rowdy and the trail boss Mr. Favor both had   
   > vests on.  So what was the purpose of a vest? Especially since they don't   
   > have sleeves.   
      
   I really think that's mostly a movie thing. A vest could be a useful   
   accessory, if not nearly so universal as film would have it. You can   
   reach a vest pocket when a pants pocket would have been troublesome. And   
   it makes such a classy shot to have the cowboy casually fish his tobacco   
   from a vest pocket. And the vest gives the costumer a shot a making   
   clothing look more different than plain pants and shirt. Vests in   
   general were more common in those days, but largely with suits and   
   uniforms.   
      
   And fashion varied from region to region. Some variations were driven by   
   local conditions. The broad hat rim that kept the Texas sun off wasn't   
   practical in Kansas where the wind would catch it. Wooly leggins and   
   those tricked up with fringe and other stuff would never do in the South   
   Texas brush country where a man wore slick leather leggins and a duck   
   jacket, even in summer, on account of the myriad thorns.   
      
   --   
                          Gerald Clough   
       "Nothing has any value, unless you know you can give it up."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)